Guide to the "Collegiate life"

The Salt Lake Collegiate Institute opened to students of all ages on April 12, 1875 in the basement of the First Presbyterian Church (1). Its first classes were taught by the Coyner family. "Mrs. Mary Wilson Coyner took charge of the primaries, Miss Emma Margaret Coyner the intermediates and I had those in the advanced studies," wrote J.M. Coyner in 1897 (2). As a result of their efforts, the Coyners taught sixty-five pupils in their first term. The Salt Lake Collegiate Institute began without being able to offer the necessary material objects that a school should provide. In 1883, Principal Coyner described conditions as "two basement rooms, bare of everything like school furniture, poorly lighted and illy [sic] ventilated, no desk, no maps, no endowment, no money, and no positive assurance of students, was all there was." (3)

The Collegiate Institute's purpose was to bring a strong Christian presence to the education system of the West. It sought to provide high school education to Presbyterian youth, as well as members of the Mormon Church.

In 1877, financial backing came to the Collegiate Institute after the formation of the Women's Executive Committee and the Presbyterian Church Home Mission Board's subsidization of three female teachers. In 1896, the Woman's Board took full possession of the Collegiate Institute, and would retain control until 1910. In 1910, ownership was transferred to the Board of Trustees of Westminster College.

Starting in 1902, the Collegiate Institute was gradually incorporated into Westminster College as its Preparatory Department. The Collegiate Institute moved from the property of the First Presbyterian Church (the old building, the new building, and the dormitory known as the "Octagon House") to the property purchased by the college to be used as the new (and current) campus. The last principal of the Collegiate Institute was George B. Sweazey (1904–1914), who became the dean of Westminster College in 1914. The Collegiate Institute operated as the Preparatory Department of Westminster College until 1936, when the department was phased out entirely (4).

The Collegiate Institute produced the first student publication at Westminster College, "Collegiate life". It contained news related to students, faculty, and the Collegiate Institute, and also featured a variety of student writings, such as poems and jokes. Started in 1912, the publication had a professional appearance but little is known of its history. Only a few issues (1912-1930) have survived and are housed in Westminster College's Archives.

This organizational history of the Salt Lake Collegiate Institute was written by Joshua Ivie in October 2006.

Sources and references:

(1) The sources are unclear as to what specific church they are referring to, but the website of the First Presbyterian Church [http://homestead.com/fpslc/history.html], viewed 22 August 2006 confirms this.

(2) John M. Coyner, "History of the Salt Lake Collegiate Institute, from its organization April 12, 1875 to May 5, 1875," unpublished manuscript, 1897, p. 12, filed in Principal J.M. Coyner's writings (ACC-013).

(3) As quoted by R. Douglas Brackenridge in "Westminster College of Salt Lake City" (Salt Lake City: Utah State University Press, 1998), p. 43.

(4) The reasons for the discontinuation of the Collegiate Institute are unclear; the last instance of the Preparatory Department mentioned in the college catalogs can be found in the 1935-36 school year. The Board of Trustees Minutes for 1935 and 1936 address the decision to cease all junior college operations and operate solely as a four-year baccalaureate institute.

(5) Emil Nyman. "Presidents of Westminster College (as of 1973)", Salt Lake City : Westminster College, 1973.

(6) Emil Nyman. "Westminster College: One Hundred Years". Salt Lake City : Westminster College, 1975.

This collection consists of issues of the student publication Collegiate life, published between 1910-1930 by the Salt Lake Collegiate Institute, the preparatory department of Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Collegiate life is the earliest student publication of the College. It was published monthly and contained student-written articles and poetry, class histories and notes, information on students and their activities, photographs of students and college facilities, student drawings, cartoons, and advertisements for local businesses.

The collection consists of a single bound copy containing all issues in Volumes 1 and 2 and scattered individual issues from Volumes 2 through 17.

With the December 1929 issue, the format changes from a magazine style to a newspaper and identifies itself as "Second edition." It is assumed the newspaper replaced the earlier version. The newspaper is four pages in length with shorter articles, fewer advertisements, no illustrations, and only one photograph, Only two issues in the newspaper format have survived: December 1929 (listed and the Second edition) and May 1930 (as the Fourth edition).

Gaps in the collection: There are numerous gaps in the collection. It is difficult to identify all missing issues because the numbering system is inconsistent and confusing. Notably, while the June 1916 issue is numbered Vol. 6, no. 6, the March 1925 issue jumps back to Vol. 3, no. 5.

Digitized materials: The first 4 issues of Collegiate life have been digitized and are available within the Westminster College Textual Works collection on the Mountain West Digital Library website:

• Collegiate life, December 1910 (Vol. 1, no. 1)
• Collegiate life, January 1911 (Vol. 1, no. 2)
• Collegiate life, February 1911 (Vol. 1, no. 3)
• Collegiate life, March 1911 (Vol. 1, no. 4)

Restrictions on Access:

Open to public research.

Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Twenty-four hours advance notice is encouraged.

Restrictions on Use:

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material must be obtained from the director of the Giovale Library.

Preferred Citation:

Collegiate life, 1910-1930, ACC-118, Giovale Library Archives, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically by date of publication.

Processing Note:

Processed September 2007 by Tera Mayo. when available, 2 copies of an issue have been retained.

Creator:

Salt Lake Collegiate Institute

Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1902-1983)

Language:

Collection materials are in English.

Quantity:

0.3 linear feet

Language of the Finding Aid:

English.

Author of the Finding Aid:

Finding aid written September 2007 by Tera Mayo.

EAD Creation Date:

2013 April 4 by Sarah Shaw

Standard:

Describing Archives : A Content Standard (DACS)

Subarea:

Related Material:

Related collections and photographs in Giovale Library Archives:

• George B. Sweazey Salt Lake Collegiate Institute Principal's correspondence, 1903-1913 (ACC-001A)
• Salt Lake Collegiate Institute account books, 1885-1916 (ACC-002A)
• Salt Lake Collegiate Institute student records, 1878-1920 (ACC-002B)
• Salt Lake Collegiate Institute catalogs, 1875-1914 (ACC-028)
• Salt Lake Collegiate Institute Student Council Association minute books, 1910-1935 (ACC-032)
• Young Mens' Christian Association of Westminster College minute book, 1922-1942 (ACC-036)
• Westminster College catalogs, 1898-2004 (ACC-072)
• Buzza, David Evans "Contribution to a history of Utah's Westminster College", p. 13
• Photograph of Salt Lake Collegiate Institute students and teachers, 1908-1910
• Photograph of Salt Lake Collegiate Institute Football Squad, 1909
• Photograph of the Y.M.C.A., 1928-1929 (at Westminster College, with Dr. Reherd at top left)
• Photograph of the Salt Lake Collegiate Institute Baseball Team, pre-1911

Corporate Names:

Salt Lake Collegiate Institute--Archives
Salt Lake Collegiate Institute--History--Sources
Salt Lake Collegiate Institute--Periodicals
Salt Lake Collegiate Institute--Students
Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1902-1983)--Periodicals
Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1902-1983)--History--Sources

Subject Terms:

Student newspapers and periodicals--Utah--Salt Lake City

Form or Genre Terms:

Magazines (periodicals)
Newspapers

Geographical Names:

Salt Lake City (Utah)--History--Sources